In case you haven’t heard, WPGU was nominated for 10 CMJ College Radio Awards this year. CMJ is essentially the authority on new music, college radio, and music industry charting, so these nominations are a really big deal. The award show was held on October 22 in New York City and while the station didn’t win any awards, the nominations themselves are a huge testament to the overall quality of work that goes on here as there are there are literally thousands of college radio stations across the country.

WPGU was nominated for:

Radio Station of the Year
Music Director of the Year -Cannata!
Specialty Music Director of the Year - Grego
Biggest Community Resource
Best Use of Limited Resources
Best Group Effort
Best Website
Most Doing Something No One Else is Doing
Best Student Run Station
Most Supportive of Local Scene

Kudos to the station! More importantly though, thank you to all of our listeners. Certainly none of this would be possible without you!

BP

On December 4, 2009 WPGU is hosting its first annual Laughing Prairie Dog Festival. The show will be held at the Canopy Club and it features performances from The Hood Internet, Santahh, Common Loon, and the Smoking Popes.

Are we telling you everything at this point? Of course not! I can, however, assure you that there are more artist announcements to come and WPGU will not let you down!

Be sure to stayed tuned to 107.1 and check www.the217.com for updates, ticket info and more!

Band info…

http://www.myspace.com/commonloon

http://www.thehoodinternet.com/

http://www.myspace.com/smokingpopes

http://www.myspace.com/santamusic

For a college town doused in ‘indie music,’ a refreshing dose of metal can’t hurt.  Last night, Atlanta rockers Sevendust graced Champaign-Urbana with a solid metal show.  Their performance was hosted by the Canopy Club in Urbana, a venue that will bring more metal to the scene this weekend.  This Saturday (7/18), Battery will be hitting the stage.  Perhaps you haven’t heard of them, but you surely know the band they pay tribute to: Metallica.

If you’re not into shelling out $69.50 (before ‘convenience’ fees and the like) to see the original, metal legends in an arena, then tribute band Battery is the perfect alternative.  Get up and close and personal with all of your favorite Metallica hits; if we’re lucky, there’ll be no selections from ‘St. Anger.’ 

Aside from the metal happenings in town, I’d like to say: Thanks for listening!  I’ve only got a week left here in Champaign-Urbana, which means I’ll be on the air for only 5 more days.  I’m hoping to make my last shift (Thursday, 7/23, 6-9pm) most excellent, with listener requests and quite a few surprises.  Thanks again for the support, and have a great rest of the summer!

Hey everybody! Grego here!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far! Its been very fun for me! Hanging out at WPGU, going to shows, visiting with friends, and soon to be going on tour with the band I’m in.

There is all sorts of great things going in Champaign-Urbana during the summer. And if you are saying “How can a college town be cool during the summer?”, then I have a solution for you!!!!\

Come check out 13 Thursdays! Every Thursday, the Campustown business on Green Street have all sorts of great deals on food and merchandise and even sometimes have some cool stuff going on right on the sidewalk! Like for instance, yours truly at WPGU and Illini Media.

Every Thursday from 5-7, the WPGU Promotions Team will have all sorts of fun games, treats, and prizes for all of you to enjoy. Not too mention there will be a musical act and this week is Zak Maybaum! Not too mention you can meet WPGU DJ’s and see Rich in the studio through our big window. Be sure and laugh at him ;).

So come enjoy 13 Thursdays every Thursday on Green in Campustown! The best place to find cool stuff to do during the summer!

Keep listening to PGU!
Grego

SO a few days ago I had the pleasure of taste testing food at the WPGU restaurant of the week. Noodles and Company is cool because they offer dishes (mostly noodles, some salads and desserts) from all over the globe. Call me a Midwesterner (I am), but one of my favorites was the Wisconsin Mac and Cheese. The noodles are regular macaroni, but the cheese is shredded and melted on top! I even went out and got some more today.

If you’re feeling international and maybe a little healthy, I personally recommend the Whole Grain Tuscan Linguine. I can’t really figure out why the vegetables and whole grain noodles are so darn delicious in this dish. I mean, I try to cook this kind of thing at home, but it never exactly has me licking the plate. For proof that healthy things can be yummy, give it a shot ASAP. It’s no joke.

Stop on by Noodles and Co., the WPGU restaurant of the week. And when you do, give us a wave at our studio— 512 E. Green St.—maybe you can even bring one of our DJs a rice crispy treat.

If you know me, then you’re aware of what music I like.  I’m all about strong melodies and dynamic, hard rock.  One of the most overlooked aspects of music today is, well, musicianship.  It’s quite rare (these days) if a ‘popular’ band can stretch beyond their own tunes and really play their instruments.  This came to my attention when a gold mine was sent to me via the Internet: John Mayer covering Van Halen’s Panama.  Yes, you heard it right.  I’m not even going to post a link of the performance because it is so hideous.  While his millions of fans have been taught that John Mayer is an influential, idolized guitarist, his take on a classic rock song is proof of the opposite.

Aside from stealing licks directly from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mayer is not much more than a pop singer.

I realize that my previous statements may offend some of Mayer’s beloved fans, so I’ll suggest some good listening.  The following bands have not only great songs, but they also have great, live performances.  See: Chickenfoot, Alter Bridge, Mr. Big.

P.S. – I’d like to hear your comments!  Feel free to respond after checking out some live videos (or studio recordings) of the three aforementioned bands.

The sun is shining, and it’s certainly heating up in Champaign-Urbana.  Even though there’s no Taste of Champaign this weekend, there’s still a ton of stuff to do!  In the ‘taste’ vein, Taste of Chicago has begun — and we’ve got our WPGU stamp on it.  In Grant Park, the Dew Tour will be making its first appearance in Chicago!  Today and tomorrow, first-class BMXers will be putting on the action-sports show of a lifetime — Dave Mirra, Ryan Nyquist, and Jamie Bestwick will not only be performing, but signing autographs as well!  We’re support this event with a huge prize giveaway, including gifts from Ogio, Nike, and other great sponsors!  For more info on the whole show, be sure to check out allisports.com . If you’re not looking to travel out of town this weekend, just visit the217.com’s extensive calendar — if there’s something going on in Champaign-Urbana, it’s on the calendar.

Earlier this week I blogged about my excitement of attending the Taste of Champaign-Urbana. This evening I was asked to work at the WPGU tent. Work, meaning handing out T-shirts, chat with the locals, you know. The usual. Be the friendly face of WPGU.

This evening I got in my car and began driving to West Side Park. As I was driving, the rain started. Shortly after the wind. Next came the lightening and then the hail.

I call WPGU’s station manager, Jon Hansen, and tell him the situation. Him, being in Chicago for the night, didn’t know the extent of what was going on. I follow orders from Jon to stick around and wait out the storm in my car.

In the end, the Taste of Champaign-Urbana was cancelled for the night. On the plus side, I got some pretty intense pictures of the damage at West Side Park.

Click here to view more!

Now, all I’m curious about is why my roommate didn’t have enough common sense to close all the windows in our apartment while this storm was going on…

WPGU is going to be at the Taste of Champaign all weekend!  Make your way over to West Side Park and enjoy the festivities — we’d love to see you there!  Chances are, you’ll be able to hang out with your favorite DJs while basking in the sights and sounds of Champaign, IL.

In other news, Thirteen Thursdays is well under way.  This means special deals on merchandise, food, and much more all around Campustown!  For a full listing of the businesses involved, check out CUcampustown.com . It’s totally worth your time.

Along with Thirteen Thursdays comes live music outside the WPGU Studio!  Yesterday, we hosted a special performance by Larry from Curb Service.  As if that wasn’t enough, he even performed some new material.  In case you’ve missed out, make sure you’re at the WPGU Studio next Thursday.  And the next one, and the next..all throughout the summer.

After living in the suburbs of Chicago my whole life, I would have never imagined staying in Champaign for a summer. Nonetheless, I am here and I am loving it!

One event that I have been looking forward to is the Taste of Champaign. Food, local businesses, music… what more is there to ask for?

WPGU of course!

The WPGU staff will be out at the Taste of Champaign-Urbana! Make sure you head out to the Taste to come see us. I’m sure we will be giving away free stuff (though I can’t tell you what yet) plus WPGU people are awesome and great to hang out with! (We are humble too.)

I will be with the WPGU staff on Friday night at the Taste of Champaign.

I hope to see you there!

For more information (maps, times, places, etc.) CLICK HERE!